Editor’s note: Today’s Haas Factory Team preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2026 Cup Series season.
HAAS FACTORY TEAM
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Motorsports
Driver-crew chief pairing: Cole Custer-Aaron Kramer (No. 41)
Team outlook: Heading into its second Cup Series season, Haas Factory Team has a big change on the way, aligning with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports in 2026. The organization previously raced underneath the Ford banner, dating back to 2017 during the Stewart-Haas Racing era. But with the new partnership, the Gene Haas-owned enterprise is hoping to take the next step and reap the rewards for both Cole Custer in the No. 41 Chevrolet, as well as the team’s two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entries piloted by Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed.
RELATED: Haas Factory Team aligns with Chevrolet in 2026
COLE CUSTER, NO. 41 CHEVROLET
Experience: Four full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 153 starts
2025 stats: 32nd in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 2 top fives, 3 top 10s, 0 poles, 10 laps led
Driver outlook: Custer made a return to Cup in 2025 after two seasons back in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, winning the title in 2023. While he struggled most of the season, he nearly pulled off a pair of superspeedway victories late in the season at Daytona and Talladega. Certainly, a learning curve is expected with a new manufacturer in 2026, but Custer has his eyes set on a return to Victory Lane for the first time since 2020, when he won at Kentucky as a rookie. Expect the 27-year-old from Ladera Ranch, California, to contend at the early-season drafting tracks, and as 2026 progresses, he’ll likely be a candidate for a bounce-back season.
MORE: Cole Custer driver page | Watch NASCAR video highlights